Module carrier

Abstract

A module carrier includes a liftable upper cover of metal and a plastic seat for securing modules. The bottom portion of the plastic seat is provided with a pair of plastic elements for receiving a plurality of terminals. The contact ends of the terminals have top edges provided with three or four contact points. The rear edge of the upper cover, which has a generally inverted U-shaped cross section, has round posts projecting from the inner portions on both sides thereof. The front edge has slightly lower projecting plates provided on both sides thereof. The upper end of each projecting plate is provided with a boss. The middle portion of the front edge is bent to form an actuating rib. Additionally, the end face is provided with front, rear and middle openings. A pair of downwardly inclined elastic plates are provided above each of the front and rear openings. The plastic seat is provided with front, rear and middle hot air inlets. The front and rear edges are provided with an indentation at either side for insertion of conductive terminal blocks. The end face between adjacent hot air inlets is provided with a plurality of holes for upward extension of the contact points to contact corresponding tin balls at the bottom portion of the modules.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A module carrier adapted for connecting a pair of modules to a printed circuit board, said module carrier comprising: 
       a metal upper cover, which is a rectangular housing having a generally inverted U-shaped cross section, and has a rear edge provided with round posts projecting from inner portions on both sides thereof, a front edge provided with slightly lower projecting plates on both sides thereof, an upper end of each of said projecting plates being provided with a boss, a middle portion of said front edge being bent to form an actuating rib, an end face thereof being provided with front, rear and middle openings, a pair of downwardly inclined elastic plates being provided on each side of said front and rear openings;  
       a plastic seat, which is a rectangular plate member having an end face provided with front, rear and middle hot air inlets, a plurality of holes being formed in carrier end faces between adjacent ones of said hot air inlets, a top edge with both sides provided with a pair of clamp plates, four adjacent corners being respectively provided with positioning holes, a bottom side having a plurality of parallel ribs spacedly arranged thereon such that adjacent ones of said ribs define a plurality of parallel grooves therebetween, front and rear edges of said plastic seat being respectively provided with an indentation on either side thereof, said indentations on said front side being respectively provided with a longitudinal elongate bottom edge open retaining groove in the middle, both sides of which being provided with a pair of clamping plates slightly higher than said end face;  
       a pair of plastic elements, which are generally rectangular hollow frame members, each of which is provided with a short post at each of four end corners thereof, said short post being fitted into said positioning holes in said plastic seat from below, an end face of each of said plastic elements being provided with a plurality of parallel grooves corresponding to said parallel ribs on said plastic seat;  
       a pair of front and rear conductive terminal blocks, back sides of which are respectively provided with a retaining block that gradually inclines and projects downward for insertion into said retaining grooves in said indentations of said plastic seat, the bottom side thereof being vertically and outwardly bent to form a pair of suitably spaced-apart metal legs, said pair of front conductive terminal blocks having top faces connectedly provided with a pair of V-shaped conductive plates, said pair of rear conductive terminal blocks having top edges bent outwardly to form a projecting retaining face, which is formed with a transverse elongate groove; and  
       a plurality of terminals, each or said terminals being a generally narrow sheet member and having a contact end at the front, said contact end having a generally U-shaped cross section, a top edge forming three contact points, an elongate force arm connected to said contact end, a fixed end disposed rearwardly of said force arm and provided with projecting teeth on both sides thereof, and solder ends disposed at a rear edge of said fixed end and bent vertically downward and projecting forwardly so that said fixed end is insertably disposed in said grooves, with the contact ends disposed oppositely, said solder ends projecting and extending outwardly of said plastic elements;  
       whereby a pair of modules are disposed on said carrier end face of said plastic seats, with both sides limited by said pair of clamp plates on said carrier end face, a plurality of tin balls on the bottom side thereof being positioned above said holes in said plastic seats such that said tin balls can be gripped by contact said three contact point of said terminals that extend outwardly of said holes to achieve electrical connection.  
     
     
       2. The carrier module of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining face and said projecting end define a suitably high receiving space when said rear conductive terminal block is fitted into a respective one of said corresponding indentations on the rear side of said plastic seat to prevent slippage thereof and to permit said round posts on said upper cover to perform forward and rearward slidable displacement as well as lifting and closing movements therein. 
     
     
       3. The module carrier of  claim 1 , wherein said cross section of each of said contact ends of said terminals may be configured to be a round surrounding member with a top edge forming four contact points.